Swift Faces RICO Suit Over Illegal Workers

Law360, New York (December 18, 2006, 12:00 AM EST) -- Eighteen former employees of Swift & Co. have filed a $23 million lawsuit alleging that the meat packing company conspired to “manipulate and depress the labor market and wages by hiring illegal immigrants,” lawyers for the employees said.

The news comes days after what may be the largest workplace crackdown on illegal immigration in U.S. history, when federal authorities arrested more than 1,000 people at meat processing giant Swift & Co.

“These plaintiffs are legal residents and victims in a longstanding scheme by Swift to depress...